Page 76 of More Than a Little Spark

Now I feel like I’m going to cry.“Yeah.Cuz you are.”

She wipes her face.“I’m sorry for crying.I just… I had my window down and heard you, and I can’t make it stop.”

Bailey leans forward in her seat.“That’s okay.My mom cried all the time when she was pregnant with my brother.”

Daphne freezes.

Mason whips around to look at me.“You’re going to be a big brother!”

I stretch across so that I don’t have to shout at Daphne.“If you want, Mason can sit in the back seat.You can sit in the passenger seat, and I’ll drive us home.I can even stop by the store on the way if you need anything.”

She reaches for the door handle.“That’s a good plan.And the store is a good idea.”

I point at my friends.“Do not breathe a word of this to anyone until I say so.”

Bailey grins.“I can keep secrets.”

Mason slaps a hand over his mouth, then laughs.“I won’t say anything.Not even to Mom or Dad.”

“Thank you.”Daphne buckles her seat belt.“Make sure you adjust your mirrors.”

“I will.”This is the first time I’ve driven with both my friends in the car, so I pay careful attention to the road.I want them to be impressed.

After a stop at the store, I drive back to the ranch.Once I’m home, I close myself in my room to get my homework done.I mostly stay in my room so that Daphne has some time to herself.What if Bailey is right?

Mason loves his little sister, and Bailey talks about how fun it is to have a younger brother.I find myself hoping that Daphne is pregnant.And I’m grateful I didn’t keep Dad and Daphne apart.I liked it when it was just Dad and me, but this is so much better.

A while later, Daphne knocks before pushing open the door.“Instead of going to the mess hall, we’ll eat here.I made spaghetti.”

“Yum.”

I’m sitting in the kitchen when Dad gets home.He sniffs the air and looks at Daphne.“You cooked.”

“I’ve been craving spaghetti, so I made that tonight.I hope it’s okay.”

Dad better say yes because a no will have her in tears, and I am not prepared for that twice in one day.

“Of course it’s okay.I love spaghetti.”He glances at me, then steps closer to Daphne and lowers his voice.“Craving, huh?”

She nods, then wipes her eyes.“And Fred referred to me as mom when talking to Mason and Bailey, and I’ve been crying on and off ever since.”She buries her face in his chest.

Dad looks at me, and I shrug.

“That’s a good thing, right?That he referred to you as mom?”

“Very good.It makes me happy.”She picks her head up.“And there’s something else I need to tell you.”

Little crinkle lines appear around Dad’s eyes as he smiles.“What’s that?”

“We’re going to have a baby.”She drops her head against his chest again.“I’m so happy.”

Dad is beaming.“I can tell.All the tears make you seem really happy.”He looks at me, eyebrows raised, and I know he’s gauging my feelings on the revelation.

I give him a thumbs-up.

Having a baby around can’t be too much worse than taking care of a kitten.Oreo was a handful when we first got her.

“Can I tell my friends?”

---